This is the VOA SpecialEnglish AGRICULTURE REPORT.
An international debate continues about genetically engineeredcorn.
Last November, the British sciencepublication Nature reported the findings of two researchers. Theyare Ignacio Chapela and David Quist of the University of Californiaat Berkeley.
The researchers said they found that genetic material fromgenetically engineered plants can spread across great distances tonative plants. They said they found the genetic material in wildcorn growing in the mountains of southern Mexico.
Nature now has published a statement that says the study was notwell researched and should not have been published. The publicationtook the action after at least four groups of scientists criticizedthe study.
After the report was published last year, opponents of geneticengineering said the findings confirm that the technology isspreading in uncontrolled ways. They noted that Mexico’s governmentbanned the planting of genetically engineered corn inNineteen-Ninety-Eight.
However, scientists who support biotechnology in crops attackedthe findings and the test methods used. The scientific publication”Transgenic Research” also criticized the study. It said theresearchers failed to present strong scientific evidence to supporttheir claims.
Such criticisms led to other accusations. More thanone-hundred-forty non-governmental organizations signed a statementin support of the University of California researchers. The jointstatement urged agricultural officials to halt the spread ofgenetically engineered corn.
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexicoalso joined the debate. The Center is a non-profit group thatstudies corn. The center has a large collection of Mexican cornplant genes. It says none of its extensive testing has found geneticmaterial from genetically engineered plants in native Mexican corn.The center is continuing to do more testing.
Many scientists believe that that genes from geneticallyengineered crops can spread. The most famous case involves StarLinkcorn in the United States. American officials approved StarLink foruse in animal feed. However, it was found in a number of foodproducts for human use.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.